CEO of the Serum Institute of India, Adar Poonawalla, argued on Monday that the Chinese government should consider importing western COVID-19 vaccines to speed up the pandemic recovery following Beijing's decision to widely scrap lockdown rules last month.

Speaking to CNBC in Davos, Switzerland, Poonawalla warned that China's latest coronavirus outbreak represents a global issue, since a large number of people is coming in and out of the country. The chief of the largest vaccine maker reaffirmed the institute was prepared to provide vaccines to China if Beijing requests them.

China has so far abstained from using western mRNA COVID-19 vaccines but opted to inoculate its population with domestic jabs from Sinovac and Sinopharm. However, studies have proven these vaccines offer less protection compared to those made in the West.